[h1][center][color=BBC7E1]Charlotte[/color] & [color=#035E7B]Thea[/color][/center][/h1] [sub][right][color=#035E7B]Interaction: [/color][@JJ Doe] Ryn/Fritz/△△△[/right][/sub] [hr] [color=BBC7E1][i]A little complicated?[/i][/color] Charlotte had allowed a polite, tight-lipped smile to appear on her face in reaction to John’s words. She had figured Thea would have changed over the year just as she had, but how bad was it? Though she had heard rumors, she dismissed them simply as such. Thinking back to the ball, she did recall being a little perplexed by Thea’s choice of a ballgown. Varian was known for being less conservative with their clothing, but it had seemed rather out of Thea’s normal selection. It was only natural for people to change, especially in response to traumatic events. Perhaps the change had simply been startling. It had been for Charlotte and still was. She still wasn’t sure quite who she was. Sometimes it felt as if she had been stuck in time, unable to move forward and become who she wanted to be. Maybe that’s how Thea felt, even if the two women displayed such a thing in different ways. She squeezed Thea’s hands tightly before letting go as she departed from the room with John. She took the letter in her hands and held it out before her. [i][center]My Lady, Regretfully I must inform you that I cannot proceed with our marriage arrangement. I, like any gentleman searching for a wife, need someone that’s much more level headed like my sister Beatrice. I had hoped I could help temper you, but it has proven to be too much and I have chosen to end our engagement. I have sent a letter to your mother as well to inform her of the same thing. My sister Beatrice and I shall be departing this evening and heading back to Varian. I wish you the best, Prince Felix Camilia[/center][/i] She held the paper silently for a moment, her brows furrowing and her gaze darkening. Her grip on the letter tightened and Charlotte may have looked as if she were about to tear her nails into it. Finally, she set it on the coffee table. After a deep breath, she glanced up and became aware of her cousin. [color=BBC7E1] “Oh Devan, um.. I can show you where your bedroom is.”[/color] She offered suddenly, the tight-lipped smile reappearing. Charlotte took a moment to do so and allow the poor man to get settled finally, leading him up the stairs and down the hall. That ordeal took up a few minutes of her time before she made her way back into the drawing room. Charlotte seated herself and tensely stared ahead of her, deep in thought. John and Thea returned to the room after some time and John took his leave. She had given a hug goodbye and then turned upon Thea as soon as it was just the two of them. She had planned to be calm in her manner as her lips parted. Though she had managed to keep a low volume, her anger had leaked into her voice and her expression had immediately changed as she spoke. [color=BBC7E1] “How dare he speak about a woman as if she is [i]a pet to tame.[/i] He best worry about his own temperament instead of casting such judgment upon another!”[/color] Charlotte had thrown her hands up in the air with a pout as she had been speaking. She then shook her head in disgust, adding indignantly, [color=BBC7E1] “Absolutely ridiculous… If I had a chance to converse with him…”[/color] A moment of dread came over Thea once again as she remembered why she was here and what had occurred as she glanced at the letter on the table. She moved and sat down with a heavy sigh as she began playing with her hair some. [color=#035E7B] “Oh Lottie, I made a grave mistake last night and I think it is what finally scared him off.”[/color] Her voice broke a little as she said this, but she took a deep breath in order to get control of herself. [color=#035E7B]“I wasn’t fond of the arrangement and he was certainly…interesting, but I was just starting to come around to the idea of marriage. I got far too drunk last night and I went to his rooms where I confessed a few things and I knew it was a mistake as soon as he was unwilling to comfort me.”[/color] Charlotte stepped forward and sat beside her. Her shoulders slacked and her expression saddened. [color=BBC7E1] [i]Sometimes I hate the power a man can have over a woman.[/i][/color] She took her words in and arranged her thoughts carefully before speaking. [color=BBC7E1] “Thea…”[/color] Her tone was softer than before now. She gently put a hand on her back, [color=BBC7E1] “The person you want to marry is someone who will love you for who you are… At your lowest and your highest.“[/color] She allowed that to sink in, [color=BBC7E1] “Their perception of you isn’t supposed to change because you’re not behaving enough like their [i]sister.[/i] They should not get to decide how you should act nor what kind of person you should be. Do not give them that kind of permission.”[/color] The words almost came as a shock to Thea and she sat quietly for a long moment as she thought deeply about them. Although a rather simple thought, Charlotte was right and it had been something Thea had never really thought about before. Her whole life her actions seemed to have been dictated by others, especially men like her father. If she wasn’t what they wanted her to be she was shamed for it. [color=#035E7B]”A-are there people out there who will really love me for who I am, no matter what?”[/color] She asked as she glanced over at her friend, a blush coming to her cheeks as she realized how silly that question may actually be. In a romantic sense, Charlotte wasn’t certain it existed, but she liked to think it did. [color=BBC7E1] “Well you have already people like that around you. I love you Thea. Leo does too and certainly, John seems to care for you. You have friends and family who are behind you no matter what happens. ”[/color] She started off explaining and then paused. Charlotte seemed to debate mentally before she sighed. [color=BBC7E1] “But in the romantic sense, I am also curious to such a question as well… I think we both deserve such at the least, don’t you? ”[/color] She smiled sadly. A warmth bloomed in Thea’s chest at Charlotte’s words and she felt tears sting her eyes once again, but this time it wasn’t from sadness. She was thankful to her friend while also internally beating herself up a little for staying away for so long. She was truly a fool and needed to start relying on those around her who truly cared about her. With their help, perhaps she could find some semblance of happiness. She felt her cheeks heat as she realized she’d also mentioned John caring for her and she recognized how true that actually was. [color=#035E7B]”We do both deserve that, Lottie. You especially do. You’re kind and wonderful and smart and so caring, I truly admire you.”[/color] She turned and threw her arms around Charlotte in a tight hug. Charlotte felt herself grow sheepish [color=BBC7E1] [i] She thinks that about me? I didn’t think anyone admired me. [/i][/color] She smiled to herself only to be caught off guard by her hug, her eyes widening. She did not hesitate to return the hug, [color=BBC7E1] “You’re too sweet Thea. I am sure you’ll have men running after you. Then!” [/color] Her voice rose in excitement as she started to geek out mentally about a book she read. She clasped her hands together as she let go of Thea and sat up on her knees, her eyes animated. [color=BBC7E1] “You might have a real romance like in the novel The Woman of the Sea and the Night. I don’t know if you read it but it’s about a beautiful pirate captain with a heart of golder than the treasures she seeks! Then she meets her match when she meets the-”[/color] Her gaze turned toward the entrance as she paused mid-sentence. Delilah was back and she had brought… Fritz? Charlotte was pleased to see her new kind friend, but caught off guard. [color=BBC7E1] “H-hello there Count Fritz.“[/color] She rose to her feet to face him with a smile. She was surprised to see him return after the long night the two of them had. Though perhaps a little overwhelming for the introverted girl, she had not had company in a long time and it was kind of a nice change. She had been worried the time would have put a distance between her, Thea, and Leo, but they seemed to still like her just the same. Count Fritz was possibly one of the nicest people she had met in a long time. [color=BBC7E1] “Have you met Lady Thea?” [/color] She gestured to her then looked between them with a small gasp as she remembered her manners, [color=BBC7E1] “ Oh, do you two want some tea? Delilah just brewed us some. Or are either of you famished?”[/color] Thea stood and dipped into a curtsy as Charlotte introduced her. [color=#035E7B] “I don’t think we’ve had the pleasure of meeting yet.”[/color] She put a smile on her face, trying to be polite as she turned back to Charlotte. [color=#035E7B] “I would love some tea and perhaps some biscuits if that’s not too much to ask for?”[/color] She sat back down then, scooping up the letter she now despised, crumpling it up, and tossing it into the fireplace.